Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University football team’s opening salvo was not enough to withstand a late push by No. 18/20 Southeast Missouri, as the Govs fell, 41-24, in Ohio Valley Conference action, Saturday night in Governors Stadium.

The Govs scored a pair of first-quarter touchdowns to take a 14-0 lead. Ryan White scored on a 13-yard after the defense forced a SEMO three-and-out. Another stalled Southeast Missouri drive led to a 27-yard score by senior Terrence Holt.

Governors Football. (Courtesy: Robert Smith/The Leaf-Chronicle)

After that, Southeast Missouri’s got its offense untracked. The Redhawks scored on a 14-play, six-minute drive in the second quarter and would go on to score on seven consecutive possessions, led by the rushing of Henry Harris (152 yards) and quarterback Matt Scheible (116 yards).

The Govs mixed in a pair of scores along the way. Sophomore Jake Ryan hooked up with senior T.C. Jennings on a 28-yard TD pass and a 27-yard field goal by Stephen Stansell gave the Govs a 24-19 lead with 3:37 to play in the third.

But that played was answered by Henry Harris’ 71-yard kickoff return, leading to a one-yard TD push by Mike Jones with 1:21 to play in the third to put SEMO ahead, 27-24, for the first time. The Redhawks tacked on two more TDs in the fourth for the final 41-24 margin.

Harris, who entered the contest ranked No. 1 in the nation in all-purpose yards, finished with 308 yards, including 156 kickoff return yards. In fact, Harris and Scheible combined for 424 all-purpose yards and four rushing TDs.